Pets can be hard on your floors—especially carpets. If yours aren’t looking and smelling so fresh, the best carpet cleaners for pets effectively lift dirt and stains from rugs and upholstered surfaces. Our top pick overall is the expert-backed Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Pro Plus, which has several rows of scrubbing brushes that can tackle the most stubborn messes. And to those seeking a compact option ideal for spot cleaning upholstery and rugs, we recommend Bissell’s Little Green Pet Pro Portable Carpet Cleaner, which is a favorite among Forbes Vetted’s pet owners and the pros we consulted.
The best carpet cleaners for pets can spot clean messes and suction up ground-in dirt.
Illustration: Forbes / Photos: Retailers
While a vacuum for pet hair can give your floors a solid surface clean by picking up loose debris and fur, carpet cleaners go even deeper to leave your rugs and carpets spotless and stink-free. Using a combination of water, scrubbing and suction power, and cleaning solution, these machines are capable of addressing everything from accidents to muddy paw prints to lingering smells. Ahead, our team of home editors—who have extensive experience covering a range of cleaning products—have rounded up the best carpet cleaners for pets, including budget-friendly and portable picks.
If you have a pet that’s prone to having accidents or tracking mud indoors, the Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Pro Plus is an ultra-powerful machine that can tackle serious messes and smells. (It even promises to remove eau de skunk.) That’s partially thanks to the multiple rows of dirt-lifting brushes, which spin in two directions to scrub more deeply into carpets. “For those set-in stains, deep-cleaning machines that use heat and powerful suction like the Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution can be a lifesaver,” says professional home organizer Meghan Kessman, who’s a dog parent. “It’s powerful, versatile and designed with pets in mind.”
The deep clean setting offers the most thorough clean, but for smaller jobs, there’s also an express clean mode that allows you to get things clean and dry in 30 minutes. And for especially tough messes, there’s also a feature that sprays a concentrated stream of formula at stains and smells that are extra stubborn.
Amazon
Hoover PowerDash Pet+ Compact Carpet Cleaner
Weight: 12.8 pounds | Dimensions: 43.5 x 10.1 x 15.3 inches | Clean water tank: 0.5 gallon | Cord length: 20 feet | Additional features: Antimicrobial brush roll, removable nozzle, HeatForce technology, dual tank, storage mat | Brush style: Spinning brush roll
What you’ll love:
Compact and lightweight
Dual tank system separates clean water from dirty
Removable brush roll guard
Keep in mind:
Dirty water reservoir needs emptying often
If you can’t bring yourself to spend hundreds on a carpet cleaner, this affordable model from Hoover—a trusted brand in the space—costs less than $200 and gets the job done. It features a powerful brush roll with antimicrobial-treated brushes to tackle bacteria that cause odors, while the cleaner’s HeatForce technology helps carpets dry more quickly by blowing out hot air. This cleaner is also light, weighing in just under 13 pounds, making it easy to tote around and store.
Just note that a smaller build means a relatively small water tank, too, so this machine is best used on small carpeted areas and rugs or for spot-cleaning. The included cleaning tool simplifies the task of removing pet hair from the brush roll, and we also love that it comes with a storage mat, in case of leakage.
Amazon
Bissell Big Green Professional Carpet Cleaner
Weight: 50 pounds | Dimensions: 42.3 x 11 x 20.5 inches | Clean water tank: 1.8 gallons | Cord length: 25 feet | Additional features: Tough stain tool, extension hose, upholstery brush, crevice tool, three 8-ounce bottles of cleaning solution | Brush style: Rotating brush roll
What you’ll love:
Adjustable handle
Outstanding suction and stain removal
Intuitive to use
Best for those with multiple pets and/or kids
Keep in mind:
If your pets always seem to be soiling your carpets or rugs, you might want to invest in a professional-grade machine like Bissell’s Big Green model, which features eight rows of bristles and powerful suction to reach the most embedded stains and dirt in your carpet.
Simply put, this is one mighty—and big—machine. It weighs around 50 pounds, so using it is a bit of a workout, plus it requires a decent amount of storage space. This isn’t the kind of cleaner you can tuck into a tight corner of your closet. But if you’re looking for the most powerful model to tackle frequent and heavy-duty pet stains so you don’t have to book professional services, this cleaner is up to the task.
Amazon
Shark StainStriker Portable Carpet And Upholstery Cleaner
Weight: 8.5 pounds | Dimensions: 12.8 x 11.6 x 15 inches | Clean water tank: 40 ounces | Cord length: 12 feet | Additional features: Pet, crevice and self-cleaning tools | Brush style: Reversible with stiff bristles and softer bristles
What you’ll love:
Handheld design require little storage space
Specialized pet tool that’s effective against small messes
Lightweight and easy to tote around
Keep in mind:
You need two cleaning solutions
The cord is on the shorter side
If you’re short on storage space, the Shark StainStriker packs a lot of power in an 8.5-pound, 15-inch–tall design. What sets this model apart is its use of two cleaning solutions: When you combine the brand’s Deep Clean Pro Formula and OXY Multiplier Formula, both of which come included with the machine, they mix in the tank and work together to address ultra-deep messes and smells. It’s also especially great for cat and dog owners, thanks to its dedicated pet tool that picks up dirt and liquids with ease, distributing it all in a removable chamber.
To use this handheld model, simply move the brush head—which is reversible, with one bristley side and one less-abrasive side—over stains. (This model also comes with a crevice tool, if you need to get into hard-to-reach corners.) Then, to add formula, simply press the button on the handle to distribute water and cleanser. And when it’s time to add more fluid or empty the dirty water, both tanks pop right off and have easy-carry handles to facilitate effortless dumping and refilling. Just keep in mind the machine is designed to run with two of Shark’s proprietary formulas, and its 12-foot cord means you can’t stray too far from an outlet.
For those seeking a battery-powered model to clean areas far away from outlets like the car, this cordless model from Hoover combines powerful cleaning with cord-free convenience. Offering 15 minutes of continuous run time, this pick isn’t ideal for large messes, but it’s perfect for accidents and smaller stains you want to address immediately. It also has two effective antimicrobial attachments: a 7-inch WidePath Tool, which is best used on surface areas like the stairs or your couch, as well as a TightSpot Tool that can get into tricky nooks and crannies. If you ever find yourself up against especially dark, troublesome stains, boost mode increases the suction power and liquid recovery. And once you’re ready to clean the machine, it’s easy to flush it out with the included Hose Rinse tool.
“I love the portable size—it’s easy to put away and store it,” says Forbes art director of content and design Janet Yin, who own the machine and has two long-haired dogs and two cats. “Every part comes off, too, so I can clean and dry it thoroughly.”
Forbes art director and pup parent Janet Yin was impressed with how well the CleanSlate cleaned her … More stained upholstery.
Thanks to its compact design, impressive suction and scrubbing action and multiple attachments to target messes big and small, Bissell’s Little Green Pet Pro cleaner is one extra-versatile pick. While the Pet Stain Tool can handle most messes on carpets and upholstery, both the Tough Stain Tool and the Spraying Crevice Tool come in handy when you’re dealing with an especially stubborn or tucked-away stain.
We speak from experience—this model is very popular among Forbes pet owners. “We have five animals in a carpeted apartment, and it’s one of the reasons we’re able to keep the space consistently clean,” says Forbes senior data engineer Zach Quinn. Vetted’s director of features and special projects, Kimberly Peiffer, swears by the Little Green Pet Pro’s performance, too. “I use it all the time to clean up various pet messes in my household,” she says, adding there are “many” in her home. “It’s also not huge in size, so I can tuck it neatly into a closet without it taking up a ton of space.” And if you’re looking for a more compact and affordable version of this cleaner, multiple staffers swear by Bissell’s Little Green.
The Forbes Vetted home and kitchen is overseen by senior home and kitchen editor Amanda Arnold who vetted and approved all of the recommendations.
The coauthors of this article, Christine Colby and Fran Sales, both have years of experience researching and reviewing home essentials.
We consulted Darrell Hagan, director of technical and programs of The Carpet and Rug Institute; professional home organizer Meghan Kessman; and Marla Mock, president of Molly Maid, a Neighborly company, all of whom provided insight into carpet cleaning.
Many members of our editorial team are also devoted pet parents who have tested several of the best pet care products, including vacuums for pet hair, self-cleaning litter boxes and cat water fountains. When possible, we included insights from Forbes Vetted staff who have tested these products firsthand.
We review this story regularly to ensure our product selections are as up to date as possible. It was last refreshed in April 2025.
How We Chose The Best Carpet Cleaners For Pets
We started our search for the best carpet cleaners for pets by sifting through top-rated models among trusted home appliance retailers, including Bissell, Hoover and Shark.
We considered a number of factors, including suction power, budget, movability, weight, cord length (or cordless), design (e.g., upright or portable), tank capacity, noise level and ease of use and cleaning.
We noted any extra useful features for each product, such as express cleaning modes, solution auto-mixing and spot-cleaning accessories and attachments.
We leaned on the professional insights of Hagan, Mock and Kessman to inform our guide.
We considered customer reviews, honing in on carpet cleaners for pets that have highly favorable customer feedback.
We looked for models with an average rating of at least 4 our of 5 stars and at least 700 total ratings (a majority of our recommendations have garnered thousands).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What Type Of Carpet Cleaner Is Best For Pet Urine?
While all the models on this list are effective at lifting pet urine from carpets, the top model is Bissell’s Little Green Pet Pro Portable Carpet Cleaner. “I personally use and recommend Little Green for its powerful suction and targeted cleaning, making it perfect for tackling pet accidents,” says Kessman. Just make sure you use the right kind of cleaner; both Kessman and Mock recommend enzyme-based cleaning solutions. “They break down the proteins in the urine that cause the smell and stain,” says Mock.
What Is The Best Carpet Cleaner To Buy For Pets?
In 2025, our top pick is the Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Pro Plus, owing to its 1-gallon clean tank capacity, multiple rows of cleaning brushes and pet-focused accessories. That said, the best cleaner for you really depends on your personal needs. If you have a small pet who only has occasional accidents, a cleaner with a small capacity—like the expert- and staff-backed Bissell Little Green Pet Pro Portable Carpet Cleaner—may be right for you.
And remember, fresh floors don’t start with a carpet cleaner—they start with a vacuum. While Hagan typically recommends vacuuming at least once a week, “if you have pets, vacuumingmore frequently easily and quickly captures pet hair and dander,” he adds.
How Often Should I Clean And Shampoo Carpets If I Have Pets?
First and foremost, “you should spot-clean immediately after any accidents,” says Mock. As for shampooing all your rugs and carpeting as part of routine maintenance, you don’t need to deep-clean the surfaces quite as frequently. While Kessman recommends cleaning your carpets every one to two months, Mock says you can get away with doing so twice a year, as long as you stay on top of vacuuming and spot cleaning.
